Election Day 2012

Voters go to the polls in Greater Houston on Nov. 6

By Compiled by Chron.com

on November 6, 2012 11:20 AM

Photo: Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle

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Randy Weber, Republican candidate for Congressional District 14i, s hugged by his wife Brenda after hearing early election returns at the South Shore Harbor Resort and Conference Center on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in League City. less

Randy Weber, Republican candidate for Congressional District 14i, s hugged by his wife Brenda after hearing early election returns at the South Shore Harbor Resort and Conference Center on Tuesday, Nov. 6, ... more

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Ted Cruz celebrates with his wife Heidi during an election night watch party at the Hilton Post Oak hotel on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. Cruz defeated Democrat Paul Sadler to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. less

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Ted Cruz celebrates with his wife Heidi during an election night watch party at the Hilton Post Oak hotel on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. Cruz defeated Democrat Paul ... more

Ali Templer, left, the daughter of Senator Mario Gallegos, hugs Connie Sanchez, center, and Theresa Gallegos, right, the wife of Senator Gallegos, after positive election results come in at a watch party for the late state senator on Nov. 6, 2012 in Houston. Gallegos, who passed away in October, is still on the November ballot. He must win in order to keep his seat in Democratic hands and allow the residents of Senate District 6 to elect his replacement. less

Ali Templer, left, the daughter of Senator Mario Gallegos, hugs Connie Sanchez, center, and Theresa Gallegos, right, the wife of Senator Gallegos, after positive election results come in at a watch party for ... more

Jay Blazek Crossley and Jon Boyd follow Tuesday's election returns for the Metro referendum at an election night pro-transit party held at Natachee's, 3622 Main Street, November 6, 2012. Crossley works at Houston Tomorrow, a nonprofit organization which opposed the referendum. less

Jay Blazek Crossley and Jon Boyd follow Tuesday's election returns for the Metro referendum at an election night pro-transit party held at Natachee's, 3622 Main Street, November 6, 2012. Crossley works at ... more

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Ted Cruz holds up a vintage campaign button for Ronald Reagan as he addresses an election night watch party at the Hilton Post Oak hotel on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. Cruz defeated Democrat Paul Sadler to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. less

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Ted Cruz holds up a vintage campaign button for Ronald Reagan as he addresses an election night watch party at the Hilton Post Oak hotel on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in ... more

Republican candidate for Harris County district attorney Mike Anderson hugs his son Sam,11, as he and his sister, Jan Bailey, right, and wife, Devon Anderson, back right, greet supporters during election watching party Gloria's, 2616 Louisiana, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. less

Republican candidate for Harris County district attorney Mike Anderson hugs his son Sam,11, as he and his sister, Jan Bailey, right, and wife, Devon Anderson, back right, greet supporters during election ... more

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Ted Cruz, right, signs an autograph for supporter William Temple during an election night watch party at the Hilton Post Oak hotel on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. Cruz defeated Democrat Paul Sadler to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. less

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Ted Cruz, right, signs an autograph for supporter William Temple during an election night watch party at the Hilton Post Oak hotel on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. Cruz ... more

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Ted Cruz gets a hand over his face from daughter Caroline as his wife Heidi holds daughter Catherine during an election night watch party at the Hilton Post Oak hotel on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. Cruz defeated Democrat Paul Sadler to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. less

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Ted Cruz gets a hand over his face from daughter Caroline as his wife Heidi holds daughter Catherine during an election night watch party at the Hilton Post Oak hotel on ... more

Republican candidate for Harris County district attorney Mike Anderson gives a victory speech to supporters as he stands his his wife, Devon Anderson, their son, Sam, 11, and daughter, Brynn, 9, at election watching party at Gloria's, 2616 Louisiana, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. less

Republican candidate for Harris County district attorney Mike Anderson gives a victory speech to supporters as he stands his his wife, Devon Anderson, their son, Sam, 11, and daughter, Brynn, 9, at election ... more

Ted Cruz, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, right, stands with his wife, Heidi, as he speaks to supporters during a campaign stop outside St. Martin's Episcopal Church Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston.

Ted Cruz, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, right, stands with his wife, Heidi, as he speaks to supporters during a campaign stop outside St. Martin's Episcopal Church Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston.

Sarah Davis, Republican candidate running for re-election in the Texas House, stands with Hunter Hughes, as she campaigns near her home precinct at the Colonial Park Recreation Center on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in West University Place. less

Sarah Davis, Republican candidate running for re-election in the Texas House, stands with Hunter Hughes, as she campaigns near her home precinct at the Colonial Park Recreation Center on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, ... more

Addison Russell, 7, and Abigail Chapa, 7, cast their vote for or against the HISD Bond as first through third graders in teacher Luz Torres class at Garden Oaks Elementary School learned about voting as part of their social studies civic lesson. less

Addison Russell, 7, and Abigail Chapa, 7, cast their vote for or against the HISD Bond as first through third graders in teacher Luz Torres class at Garden Oaks Elementary School learned about voting as part of ... more

Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart looks over a poll book at the Harris County Administration building Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. The wall of boxes include poll books containing a combined over 700,000 signatures from individuals who voted early. less

Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart looks over a poll book at the Harris County Administration building Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. The wall of boxes include poll books containing a combined over 700,000 ... more

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart looks over a poll book at the... Photo-3696992.51960 - seattlepi.com

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Harris County Information Systems technichian Christopher Rodriguez, center, works on his computer at the Harris County Administration building Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. The techs provide support for polls around the county helping to set up the location including the machines and eslates, the machine that is used to vote. less

Harris County Information Systems technichian Christopher Rodriguez, center, works on his computer at the Harris County Administration building Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. The techs provide support for ... more

Lamer High School student Rebecca Altman right, checks in to vote along with fellow students Rachel Newsom 2nd from right and Rebecca Milton 3rd from right, at the Houston Metropolitan Multi-Service Center Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Chronicle ) less

Lamer High School student Rebecca Altman right, checks in to vote along with fellow students Rachel Newsom 2nd from right and Rebecca Milton 3rd from right, at the Houston Metropolitan Multi-Service Center ... more

Lamar High School Communication Director Ann Southwell left, along with students Rachel Newsom, Rebecca Altman, Rebecca Milton and Lamar Principal Dr. James McSwain arrive at the Houston Metropolitan Multi-Service Center where the students will cast their votes Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012, in Houston.
( James Nielsen / Chronicle ) less

Lamar High School Communication Director Ann Southwell left, along with students Rachel Newsom, Rebecca Altman, Rebecca Milton and Lamar Principal Dr. James McSwain arrive at the Houston Metropolitan ... more

Richard Walton, a federal immigration judge, center, said he decided to cast his vote early at the Houston Metropolitan Multi-Service Center because "It was a nice day and it was convenient, and I just wanted to get my vote recorded."
Richard Walton, a federal immigration judge, center, said he decided to cast his vote early at the Houston Metropolitan Multi-Service Center because "It was a nice day and it was convenient, and I just wanted to get my vote recorded." less

Richard Walton, a federal immigration judge, center, said he decided to cast his vote early at the Houston Metropolitan Multi-Service Center because "It was a nice day and it was convenient, and I just wanted ... more

John Martin, Democratic precinct chair and judge of Harris County's Precinct 336, right puts together one of 11 voting machines with the help of his clerk Jean Fowler in preparation of todays election, Monday, Nov. 5, 2012 in Martin's garage in Houston. Luis Damian, right, helps Martin by serving as a clerk. Martin says he opened his garage in 1993 because there wasn't anywhere else to go to vote in the precinct. Martin says turnout early on was slow, however, over 400 people visited the polling site. Martin also said that he has to take a class and get sworn in to serve as the precinct judge.

John Martin, Democratic precinct chair and judge of Harris County's Precinct 336, right puts together one of 11 voting machines with the help of his clerk Jean Fowler in preparation of todays election, Monday,

Annie Goedicke, 67, election judge sets up one of the eSlate electronic voting machines at St. Luke's Missionary Baptist Church before election day Monday, Nov. 5, 2012, in Houston.
Goedicke said she has participated in the voting process since 1986. "I always enjoyed politics and always watch elections and it's hard to find someone else that want's to do it," she said. less

Annie Goedicke, 67, election judge sets up one of the eSlate electronic voting machines at St. Luke's Missionary Baptist Church before election day Monday, Nov. 5, 2012, in Houston.
Goedicke said she has ... more

John Martin, Democratic precinct chair and judge of Harris County's Precinct 336, places one of 11 voting machines in it's place with the help of his clerk Jean Fowler in preparation of todays election, Monday, Nov. 5, 2012 in Martin's garage in Houston. Martin and his clerks Jean Fowler, center, and Luis Damian, right, helped transform his garage into the poling spot. Martin says he opened his garage in 1993 because there wasn't anywhere else to go to vote in the precinct. Martin says turnout early on was slow, however, over 400 people visited the polling site. Martin also said that he has to take a class and get sworn in to serve as the precinct judge. less

John Martin, Democratic precinct chair and judge of Harris County's Precinct 336, places one of 11 voting machines in it's place with the help of his clerk Jean Fowler in preparation of todays election, Monday, ... more

Pete Goedicke, 76, an election clerk, sets up one of the eSlate electronic voting machines at St. Luke's Missionary Baptist Church before election day Monday, Nov. 5, 2012, in Houston.

Pete Goedicke, 76, an election clerk, sets up one of the eSlate electronic voting machines at St. Luke's Missionary Baptist Church before election day Monday, Nov. 5, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Johnny Hanson, .

Pete Goedicke, 76, an election clerk, sets up one of the eSlate... Photo-3696234.51960 - seattlepi.com

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Luis Damien a clerk of Harris County's Precinct 336, places one of 11 voting machines into place in precinct Judge John Martin's garage, Monday, Nov. 5, 2012 in Houston. Luis Damian, right, helps Martin by serving as a clerk. Martin says he opened his garage in 1993 because there wasn't anywhere else to go to vote in the precinct. Martin says turnout early on was slow, however, over 400 people visited the polling site. Martin also said that he has to take a class and get sworn in to serve as the precinct judge. less

Volunteer Maria Garza, left, and clerk Bertha Gomez, right, send envelopes containing ballots through a Tritek machine at the Harris County Administration building Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. The machine images both sides to verify that the envelope was received sealed and the signature hasn't been tampered with. less

Volunteer Maria Garza, left, and clerk Bertha Gomez, right, send envelopes containing ballots through a Tritek machine at the Harris County Administration building Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. The machine ... more

Harris County employees and volunteers go over mailed-in ballots at the Harris County Administration building Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. The ballots are looked over where they are either deemed good meaning that they are ready to scan into the system, or put into a questions category where they are reviewed for different reasons. less

Harris County employees and volunteers go over mailed-in ballots at the Harris County Administration building Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. The ballots are looked over where they are either deemed good ... more

Ted Cruz, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, is reflected in Stacy Wilkirson's sunglasses as he speaks to supporters during a campaign stop outside St. Martin's Episcopal Church Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. less

Ted Cruz, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, is reflected in Stacy Wilkirson's sunglasses as he speaks to supporters during a campaign stop outside St. Martin's Episcopal Church Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in ... more

Sarah Davis, Republican candidate running for re-election in the Texas House, campaigns near her home precinct at the Colonial Park Recreation Center on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in West University Place.

Sarah Davis, Republican candidate running for re-election in the Texas House, campaigns near her home precinct at the Colonial Park Recreation Center on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in West University Place.

Harper Brown, 5, attempts to hide next to her mother, Erin, as Republican nominee for Harris County District Attorney Mike Anderson greeted them outside of a voting location at Briargrove Elementary School. Anderson opposes Democrat Lloyd Oliver. less

Harper Brown, 5, attempts to hide next to her mother, Erin, as Republican nominee for Harris County District Attorney Mike Anderson greeted them outside of a voting location at Briargrove Elementary School. ... more